Woods rules himself out of Ryder Cup

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods has ruled himself out of contention for a Ryder Cup wildcard pick due to lingering back problems, the former world number one said on Wednesday. Woods, who had surgery in March to treat a pinched nerve in his back, asked U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson not to consider him for the biennial team competition against Europe next month. "While I greatly appreciate Tom thinking about me for a possible captain's pick, I must take myself out of consideration," Woods said in a statement. "I've been told by my doctors and trainer that my back muscles need to be rehabilitated and healed. They’ve advised me not to play or practise now." (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)